RealGM

The Los Angeles Lakers swung a deal to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets over the weekend. Importantly, the Lakers didn't have to give up a single first-round pick in the trade.

Los Angeles is still looking for upgrades ahead of the February 6 trade deadline. Rob Pelinka is still armed with two tradeable first-round picks, as well as matching salary to put into deals to round out the Lakers roster.

The Lakers could be looking for backcourt depth, while still maintaining interest in Cam Johnson of the Nets, as well as Jonas Valanciunas of the Washington Wizards. In the Finney-Smith deal, Los Angeles moved off some money and cleared about $3.5 million in space under the second apron. That's crucial wiggle room to work with up to the trade deadline.

Via Jovan Buha/The Athletic

They need a Center and a backup PG who can run the offense and create his own shot, and who is a capable starter if Lebron or Reaves are injured. Another 3&D wing would be nice too but not necessary if DFS and Vando are healthy. Trade for Valanciunas and hope that Malcom Brandon gets brought out.

YourGM99 wrote:They need a Center and a backup PG who can run the offense and create his own shot, and who is a capable starter if Lebron or Reaves are injured. Another 3&D wing would be nice too but not necessary if DFS and Vando are healthy. Trade for Valanciunas and hope that Malcom Brandon gets brought out.

You hit it square on the head.

YourGM99 wrote:They need a Center and a backup PG who can run the offense and create his own shot, and who is a capable starter if Lebron or Reaves are injured. Another 3&D wing would be nice too but not necessary if DFS and Vando are healthy. Trade for Valanciunas and hope that Malcom Brandon gets brought out.

If you mean Malcolm Brogdon. Under the new CBA, teams over the 1st apron can't sign bought out players that get paid more than the MLE. Brogdon makes more than the MLE and Lakers are over the 1st apron.

Valanciunas is terrible defensively and I don't think his ability to score is worth trading for.

eureca20 wrote:

YourGM99 wrote:They need a Center and a backup PG who can run the offense and create his own shot, and who is a capable starter if Lebron or Reaves are injured. Another 3&D wing would be nice too but not necessary if DFS and Vando are healthy. Trade for Valanciunas and hope that Malcom Brandon gets brought out.

If you mean Malcolm Brogdon. Under the new CBA, teams over the 1st apron can't sign bought out players that get paid more than the MLE. Brogdon makes more than the MLE and Lakers are over the 1st apron.

Valanciunas is terrible defensively and I don't think his ability to score is worth trading for.

Yes, I meant Bragdon (that’s iphone autocorrect in action). I wasn’t aware of the CBA restrictions but nice catch. Nonetheless, they still have 1st round draft capital to get a guard.

They need a big body who they can have on Jokic which will allow AD to play the 4. I don’t think they need much offense from the center position, it’s more about size to matchup with Jokic. This was previously handled by Howard and McGee.

YourGM99 wrote:

eureca20 wrote:

YourGM99 wrote:They need a Center and a backup PG who can run the offense and create his own shot, and who is a capable starter if Lebron or Reaves are injured. Another 3&D wing would be nice too but not necessary if DFS and Vando are healthy. Trade for Valanciunas and hope that Malcom Brandon gets brought out.

If you mean Malcolm Brogdon. Under the new CBA, teams over the 1st apron can't sign bought out players that get paid more than the MLE. Brogdon makes more than the MLE and Lakers are over the 1st apron.

Valanciunas is terrible defensively and I don't think his ability to score is worth trading for.

Yes, I meant Bragdon (that’s iphone autocorrect in action). I wasn’t aware of the CBA restrictions but nice catch. Nonetheless, they still have 1st round draft capital to get a guard.

They need a big body who they can have on Jokic which will allow AD to play the 4. I don’t think they need much offense from the center position, it’s more about size to matchup with Jokic. This was previously handled by Howard and McGee.

Yea good luck with that plan. Jokic just dropped 56 on Valanciunas. You would be better off putting Lebron on him. I am not saying don't get a center. Valanciunas is just not a good option. And is not worth trading for.

eureca20 wrote:

YourGM99 wrote:

eureca20 wrote:
If you mean Malcolm Brogdon. Under the new CBA, teams over the 1st apron can't sign bought out players that get paid more than the MLE. Brogdon makes more than the MLE and Lakers are over the 1st apron.

Valanciunas is terrible defensively and I don't think his ability to score is worth trading for.

Yes, I meant Bragdon (that’s iphone autocorrect in action). I wasn’t aware of the CBA restrictions but nice catch. Nonetheless, they still have 1st round draft capital to get a guard.

They need a big body who they can have on Jokic which will allow AD to play the 4. I don’t think they need much offense from the center position, it’s more about size to matchup with Jokic. This was previously handled by Howard and McGee.

Yea good luck with that plan. Jokic just dropped 56 on Valanciunas. You would be better off putting Lebron on him. I am not saying don't get a center. Valanciunas is just not a good option. And is not worth trading for.

Valanciunas would have off ball help from AD. I don’t think there’s any player in the league who can guard Jokic straight up, maybe that person is AD but he doesn’t need to be doing that for an entire game in a 7 game playoff series. Lebron should be guarding the weakest offense player on the court 95% of the time. Valanciunas has a tradable contract and the asking price doesn’t seem to be that high. The reality is the center is only needed for Denver and the Sixers so to me it’s not worth going after one that would cost first round draft picks.

YourGM99 wrote:

eureca20 wrote:

YourGM99 wrote:
Yes, I meant Bragdon (that’s iphone autocorrect in action). I wasn’t aware of the CBA restrictions but nice catch. Nonetheless, they still have 1st round draft capital to get a guard.

They need a big body who they can have on Jokic which will allow AD to play the 4. I don’t think they need much offense from the center position, it’s more about size to matchup with Jokic. This was previously handled by Howard and McGee.

Yea good luck with that plan. Jokic just dropped 56 on Valanciunas. You would be better off putting Lebron on him. I am not saying don't get a center. Valanciunas is just not a good option. And is not worth trading for.

Valanciunas would have off ball help from AD. I don’t think there’s any player in the league who can guard Jokic straight up, maybe that person is AD but he doesn’t need to be doing that for an entire game in a 7 game playoff series. Lebron should be guarding the weakest offense player on the court 95% of the time. Valanciunas has a tradable contract and the asking price doesn’t seem to be that high. The reality is the center is only needed for Denver and the Sixers so to me it’s not worth going after one that would cost first round draft picks.

A good defensive center can help vs any team. A bad defensive center can hurt you vs every team.

And I don't think Valanciunas helps at all in guarding Jokic/Embiid. Embiid's last 2 games vs him he is averaging 40 PPG. He is only getting worse defensively.

AD would likely be helping on Jokic either way. Your just adding another body. When in reality he likely does a worse job than Hayes and the same job as Wood(with less shooting).

Yes you can do it just to do it since he is likely cheap. He is cheap for a reason though. I personally would not bother. Obviously if you did trade Gabe for him then you really need to get a capable PG.

eureca20 wrote:

YourGM99 wrote:

eureca20 wrote:
Yea good luck with that plan. Jokic just dropped 56 on Valanciunas. You would be better off putting Lebron on him. I am not saying don't get a center. Valanciunas is just not a good option. And is not worth trading for.

Valanciunas would have off ball help from AD. I don’t think there’s any player in the league who can guard Jokic straight up, maybe that person is AD but he doesn’t need to be doing that for an entire game in a 7 game playoff series. Lebron should be guarding the weakest offense player on the court 95% of the time. Valanciunas has a tradable contract and the asking price doesn’t seem to be that high. The reality is the center is only needed for Denver and the Sixers so to me it’s not worth going after one that would cost first round draft picks.

A good defensive center can help vs any team. A bad defensive center can hurt you vs every team.

And I don't think Valanciunas helps at all in guarding Jokic/Embiid. Embiid's last 2 games vs him he is averaging 40 PPG. He is only getting worse defensively.

AD would likely be helping on Jokic either way. Your just adding another body. When in reality he likely does a worse job than Hayes and the same job as Wood(with less shooting).

Yes you can do it just to do it since he is likely cheap. He is cheap for a reason though. I personally would not bother. Obviously if you did trade Gabe for him then you really need to get a capable PG.

Standing pat will not help the Lakers. They absolutely need a center if they want to get past the Nuggets. Should have gone after Trey Young/D Murray even if you had to give up Knecht in the off-season or the other 2 FRPs they have. Could have had a better chance to Klay as Trey and him could have formed a new splash brothers and then look for a defensive minded center. Bamba was available and lengthy and more defensive minded. As it is now, Vucevic maybe, but he's too expensive.

As it is now, they gave up more draft capital to, at best stay the same. Would have rather gone after Bruce Brown and Clarkson with one 2nd rounder each. Brown is great defensively and Clarkson is a great spark off the bench that could run backup point. Would still need a center, but at least they would then have a spark off the bench that could also cover one of their holes at the point on the bench with Vincent being non-existent since joing thr Lakers.

Lakers Rob hope someone reading this ... Just pull the damn trigger on Kessler/ Sexton ... I mean if you can get Kessler by himself do it but, if you can't then get him in a package deal. Everyone wants Kessler make it happen ... F the pics

If they're willing to trade Knecht the Lakers may be able to add Kessler and Sexton in a package with Rui. That will make the Lakers formidable. The Lakers will have Kessler on a rookie scale contract and the ability to extend Sexton so it's a smart trade asset wise.

Ainge would want more to sweeten the pot and that be asking for Max Christie or offloading John Collins. Who knows?

Meantime I think DFS will help a lot, and Milton too. A healthy Vanderbilt is a wild card, but this team still has way too many wings. I think moving Rui for another ball handler is the next move and Sexton would be a great addition.